Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Toxonprucha volucris (Grote, 1883)
Yrias volucris Grote, 1883
Yrias terminalis Smith, 1907
* phylogenetic sequence #930998
Explanation of Names
Volucris is Latin for "bird".
Numbers
One of 7 species in North America north of Mexico.
(1)Size
Forewing length 12-14 mm.
(1)
Identification
Larva - light to dark gray with distinctive black markings; head white and black.
(2)
Adult - forewing light greenish-gray, sometimes with reddish tint; AM, median, PM, and subterminal lines usually discernible, black or dark reddish, heaviest at costa; irregular black patch just inside subterminal line at costa; PM line meets costa at right angles, then bulges outward in large U shape below reniform spot, before continuing in wavy line to inner margin; reniform spot represented by pale irregular blotch; hindwing has thin black subterminal and PM line, and thick black double median line; all lines heaviest at inner margin, fading out part-way across wing; terminal line black and scalloped on both wings; fringe same color as ground color on both wings.
Range
Southern California, southern Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas.
(1)Season
Adults fly from April to August.
(1)Food
Crumb reported the larval host as "
catclaw (
Acacia)."
(2)See Also
Toxonprucha repentis forewing AM and PM lines have a slightly different shape, and all lines are bolder and more extensive, especially on the hindwing. Other
Toxonprucha species either have a large dark spot at the apex of the forewing, or lack a dark patch inside the subterminal line at the costa, or have differently-shaped PM lines.
Print References
Crumb, S.E. 1956. The larvae of the Phalaenidae. USDA Technical Bulletin 1135:
282 (2)
Grote, A. R. 1883. New species and notes on structure of moths and genera. The Canadian Entomologist 15(1):
3
Powell, J.A. & P.A. Opler 2009. Moths of Western North America. University of California Press. pl.44.29f, p.260
(1)Internet References
pinned adult image taken from
this page citing 163 specimens in collection (Northern Arizona U.)
pinned adult image (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
presence in California; list of 4 specimen records with dates and locations (U. of California at Berkeley)
presence in Utah; list (Joel Johnson, Utah Lepidopterists Society)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 26 January, 2008 - 10:05pm
Additional contributions by
Randy HardyLast updated 17 January, 2015 - 4:47pm
